Union County and Hagerstown were tied, 46-46, after four quarters Friday. That is when a three-overtime roller coaster ride began.  The score was tied, 52-52 after one timeout,  58-58 after two timeouts and 69-66 with the Tigers at the foul line.

“We took a big step in the right direction tonight,” UC coach Bobby Jones said. “It’s a tough place to come and win against an athletic team like Hagerstown. It was just a great basketball game tonight.”

The Patriots’ slow-down  pace found open teammates to keep up, stay close and look for a way to win.

The first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie. The Tigers outscored UC by four (24-20) at halftime and went up 35-31after three periods. 

Then it was Patriots’ catch-up time. Ty Elleman hit from 2-point range, Nick Watterson hit one-of-two freebies, Brad Meadows added a field goal and Logan Harris nailed back-to-back buckets to bring UC  within two (42-40) with 2-1/2 minutes on the clock. 

 Fouls, free throws and time outs ate up precious seconds and extended  the Tigers’ lead to 46-42, 46 seconds left to play and UC in possession.

Meadows tied the score with a 3-point field goal, Elleman made a steal, and Gavin Davis hit the front end of a 1-and-1 and Hagerstown called a timeout. Twelve seconds on the clock and the score tied 46-46 when the buzzer went off and signaled the end of the game. Or did it?

“I’m pleased with tonight” Coach Jones said again. 

The overtime was the beginning of the roller coaster.  

Meadows and Davis scored early to put UC up, 50-46; Hagerstown tied the score at 50 and added a bucket to go ahead, 52-50, but not for long.

Meadows dropped another one through the hoop that tied the score one more time before another four-minute overtime appeared and the roller coaster ride continued into the third OT.  

The Pats took a back seat to the Tigers in the first three minutes; Davis tied the score, 56-56, and Hollen followed up from the lane. Trailing by 2, Tiger Landon Lawson scored off a rebound that tied the score, 58-58 as time ran out.

Another four minutes flashed up on the scoreboard and the Patriot-Tiger match-up continued.

UC and Hagerstown both missed early free throws to start. The Tigers recovered with  consecutive field goals to lead, 62-58. The Pats cut the Tigers’ lead to one, 67-66, with :06 showing on the clock. A pair of Hagerstown free throws gave the Tigers a 69-66 TEC victory.

UC freshman Nick Watterson’s 19 points was the game’s leading scorer. Senior Meadows added 13 in a complete team effort.

Four Hagerstown players also scored in double figures – sophomore Kaagen Kendall led with 15, junior Cole Tracy added 14, sophomore Anthony Kelley 13 and senior Carter Jenkins 13.

“It was just a great basketball game,” Coach Jones said. “Pleased with our effort tonight. The mistakes we did make we will correct after watching the film. We’ll make some changes. They played unbelievable basketball tonight.  It was a great game.” 

Quarter scores
Union Co.  7  20  31  46  52  58  66
Ha’town    7  24  35  46  52  58  69

Union County (1-4, 0-2) Elleman 2-2/2-7, Meadows 3-4/6-13, Hollen 3-2/7-8, Davis 2-3/3-8, Klein 0-1/3-1, Watterson 7-3/4-19, Harris 4-0-8, Sams 1-0-2. Totals: 24-15/25-66. 
Hagerstown (1-3, 1-0) Kelley 5-2/2-13, Jenkins 4-4/9-13, Tracy 5-4/8-14, Lawson 2-0-4, Romack 2-6/8-10, Kendall 6-3/4-15, Schmitz 0-0-0. Totals: 22-13/23-69. 
 
3-pointers-UC 6 (Meadows 3, Davis 1, Watterson 2).  H 1 (Kelley). 
Rebounds-UC 24. H 29.
Turnovers-UC 21. H 15. 
Total Fouls-UC 22. H25. 
Fouled out-Harris, Elleman, Davis.